PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A head-on crash has left a motorist dead and a Portland police officer injured. Police say the two vehicles collided late last night on Northeast Portland Highway. Police say preliminary information indicates that the civilian driver crossed over the median and struck the police car head-on. The male motorist was killed, while the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The police gang squad is investigating a shooting early today that wounded a man in Portland’s Concordia neighborhood. Officers responding to a report of gunfire found a wounded 23-year-old man. His wounds are described as non-life-threatening. A number of men reportedly were seen running from the scene.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The AAA auto club reports the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Oregon is $3.89. That’s down 6 cents in a week, but it’s 27 cents higher than the national average. Some metro prices — Portland $3.89, Salem $3.84, Eugene-Springfield $3.89, and Medford-Ashland $3.87.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – There is much left to do before the Oregon Legislature’s July 13 deadline to adjourn. State lawmakers have enacted some notable changes this session, including moves that allow people living in the U.S. illegally to get driver’s licenses and pay in-state college tuition. But legislators have just over four weeks to pass a new state spending plan. And supporters are pushing several high-profile policy proposals, including gun control plans and a bill to establish medical marijuana dispensaries.

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Athlete of the Week

Richard Huff

The Junior wrestler claimed victory on the mats at 120 pounds last week in dual meets against Reedsport and North Bend, then finished 2nd at the Cascade High School Perry Burlison classic, winning his first three matches by decision before falling in the championship match.

Honorable mention is given to Viking forward Jakob Hickson who led scoring with 15 points in the Vikings’ season opening victory over the Creswell Bulldogs.

Viking Sports Talk

Coast Radio’s Our Town

The traditional methods employed by local governments to attract and develop new businesses are changing. One method being employed is by making the community as attractive and “livable” as possible says Florence’s Economic Development Coordinator. Kelli Weese says using public art can make the community stand out as well as make it more attractive to someone looking to relocate and bring new jobs with them.

Weese, along with the chair of the city’s Public Art Committee, Harlen Springer, will be on the August edition of Coast Radio’s Our Town to talk about how they’re hoping to create several pockets of public art throughout the community. City Councilor Joshua Greene will also be on the panel.

This month’s Our Town will also feature several other conversations, including two related to athletics at Siuslaw High School. Chris Johnson, a long time Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Siuslaw was recently named the athletic director. He’ll talk about the upcoming induction ceremony for the Siuslaw High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In a separate segment, newly appointed head football coach, Jamin Pool will talk about the pressures of taking over a highly successful program that has only had two other coaches over the past 50 years. Pool, who describes himself as a football fanatic, says he feels confident that he’ll be able to live up to expectiations.

Meg Spencer is one of 8 “Siuslaw Vision Keepers”, a group that has been working with several different community groups over the past 18 months to develop a common vision for what our region could look like over the next ten years. She and the others have become the core growth that grew out of the Siuslaw Pathways project, aimed at identifying several key projects and goals for the community. She’ll talk about some of those goals, including increasing access to local transportation and health care; creating community centers; and the possible creation of a regional parks and recreation department.

The other segment in Our Town this week will feature Lane Community College Florence Center director Russ Pierson and LCC’s director of financial aid Helen Faith. They’ll talk about the “Oregon Promise”, recent legislative efforts to increase low or no cost college for high school graduates in Oregon. Pierson says it’s a complicated process and it takes a lot of work and study to make it work. He and Faith will also talk about other financial options for incoming students.

It’s all sponsored by Andy Baber of Edward Jones Investments; Holloway and Associates CPA’s; the Archives Photo Restoration Specialists, Lane Community College in Florence, Siuslaw Public Library and PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. It airs on KCST, FM 106.9, the first Wednesday of each month between 4:00 and 6:00 PM; then again the next morning on KCFM, AM1250-FM 104.1 from 10:00 AM to noon.